Estero Chamber names person, business of the year

FGCU player Whitney Knight poses for a selfie with university president Wilson Bradshaw during Dunk City After Dark at ...more

FGCU player Whitney Knight poses for a selfie with university president Wilson Bradshaw during Dunk City After Dark at Alico Arena in Estero Friday night, Oct. 23, 2015. Darron R. Silva/Special to The Daily News

Outgoing Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson Bradshaw accepted another accolade before he retires at the end of this month.

The Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce named Bradshaw, 67, its person of the year. Bradshaw accepted the award during the chamber's 19th annual luncheon Friday at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point & Spa in Bonita Springs.

“It has been a blast serving Florida Gulf Coast University.”

-&nbspFGCU President Wilson Bradshaw, Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year

"It has been an honor to serve my institution and to be part of this community," said Bradshaw. "It has been a blast serving Florida Gulf Coast University."

His last day as the university president is June 30. As his retirement approaches, community organizations have offered Bradshaw praise for his nearly ten years of leadership at FGCU.

Last June in Bonita Springs, Dr. Ben Carson, now United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, granted Bradshaw the Sonya Award, named after Carson's mother.

That award goes to people who show the perseverance and determination attributed to her, according to the Carson Scholarship Fund website.

More recently, the NAACP of Collier County honored Bradshaw in February at its annual gala in Naples.

Bradshaw attended his last FGCU graduation as president last month. Michael Martin, ex-chancellor of Louisiana State University, is expected to take over as president on July 1.

"Michael Martin is an accomplished, competent and energetic academician and academic administrator," Bradshaw said. "He is biting at the bit to come here and be a part of this community. And how lucky he will be."

The Estero Chamber also awarded Business of the Year to Best Moving & Storage/Allied Van Lines, a family-run company based in Naples and with locations in Estero and Bonita Springs.

Rosalyn Gula, a long-time Chamber participant, won the inaugural Volunteer of the Year honor.

The Chamber presented four Meg Judge Scholarship Awards to Estero High School graduates. Meg Judge founded and was the CEO of the Estero Chamber.